Exhaust Flow Apparatus and Associated Engine Exhaust System

ABSTRACT

An exhaust flow apparatus including an exhaust carrier having first and second opposing end portions, the first and second end portions each including and terminating at an end, the end of the first end portion defining an exhaust inlet, and the second end portion defining a plurality of exhaust carrier outlets, wherein at least the second end portion of the exhaust carrier is configured to be housed within an exhaust pipe of an exhaust stack. The exhaust flow apparatus further includes an exhaust deflector oriented on or in proximal relation to the end of the second end portion of the exhaust carrier such that the exhaust deflector directs exhaust toward one or more of the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets during use of the apparatus.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention generally relates to an exhaust flow apparatus and an associated engine exhaust system.

BACKGROUND

During operation of a combustion engine, an engine exhaust system is constantly called upon to direct waste by-products of combustion—for instance, smoke, particulate matter, and fumes—away from the engine and into ambient air. In some engine designs, the engine exhaust system is also called upon to direct particulate matter collected from air entering the engine—namely, dust and the like—away from the engine and into ambient air. These interactions between the engine exhaust system and ambient air expose the engine exhaust system to rain, wind, and other airborne phenomena, both natural and man-made. Accordingly, the engine exhaust system should be designed to maximize throughput of exhaust while minimizing the potential negative effects of these phenomena.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2008/0282690 A1 to Ikeda et al. discloses a rain hat for heavy construction equipment. In one embodiment, the rain hat in Ikeda et al. includes an elastic plate that imparts elastic force on a plate that closes an exhaust tube. When the pressure of exhaust in the exhaust tube overcomes the elastic force imparted by the elastic plate, the elastic plate bends and the plate opens the exhaust tube to allow the exhaust to be discharged. In another embodiment, the rain hat in Ikeda et al. employs a plurality of coil springs instead of the elastic plate to provide similar operation. Therefore, both embodiments disclosed in Ikeda et al. prevent any exhaust from being discharged until the exhaust pressure in the exhaust tube is sufficient to overcome the force imposed by the rain hat. In so doing, the Ikeda et al. rain hat potentially compromises exhaust throughput to an undesirable or suboptimal degree.

SUMMARY

An exhaust flow apparatus is disclosed that includes an exhaust carrier having first and second opposing end portions, the first and second end portions each including and terminating at an end, the end of the first end portion defining an exhaust inlet, and the second end portion defining a plurality of exhaust carrier outlets, wherein at least the second end portion of the exhaust carrier is configured to be housed within an exhaust pipe of an exhaust stack. The exhaust flow apparatus further includes an exhaust deflector oriented on or in proximal relation to the end of the second end portion of the exhaust carrier such that the exhaust deflector directs exhaust toward one or more of the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets during use of the apparatus.

An exhaust flow apparatus is disclosed that includes an exhaust carrier having first and second opposing end portions, the first and second end portions each including and terminating at an end, the end of the first end portion defining an exhaust inlet, and the second end portion defining a plurality of exhaust carrier outlets, wherein at least the second end portion of the exhaust carrier is configured to be housed within an exhaust pipe of an exhaust stack. The exhaust flow apparatus further includes a cap integral with or mounted onto the end of the second end portion of the exhaust carrier such that the cap directs exhaust toward one or more of the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets during use of the apparatus. The exhaust flow apparatus also includes a particulate carrier having first and second end portions each including and terminating at an end, wherein at least the second end portion of the particulate carrier is configured to be housed within the exhaust carrier.

An engine exhaust system is disclosed that includes an exhaust carrier having first and second opposing end portions, the first and second end portions each including and terminating at an end, the end of the first end portion defining an exhaust inlet, and the second end portion defining a plurality of exhaust carrier outlets. The engine exhaust system further includes an exhaust deflector oriented on or in proximal relation to the end of the second end portion of the exhaust carrier, the exhaust deflector being configured to direct exhaust toward one or more of the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets. The engine exhaust system also includes an exhaust stack having an exhaust pipe defining an exhaust pipe outlet, wherein the exhaust pipe is oriented such that the exhaust pipe outlet is downstream from the exhaust carrier outlets and is configured to house at least the second end portion of the exhaust carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary isometric view of an engine exhaust system according to an embodiment of the invention, together with an overall engine assembly and an engine compartment;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of an exhaust flow apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary isometric view of the exhaust flow apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the exhaust flow apparatus shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary isometric view of a machine incorporating the engine exhaust system and the exhaust flow apparatus according to embodiments of the invention, including a partially cutaway view of the exhaust pipe that reveals a fragmentary isometric view of the exhaust flow apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An engine exhaust system is shown broadly at reference numeral 50 in FIG. 1. As shown, the engine exhaust system 50 is oriented in relation to an engine compartment “EC” such that the system 50 is directly or indirectly connected to various components of an engine assembly. Specifically, the engine exhaust system 50 is directly or indirectly connected to a precleaner dust outlet “PDO” of a precleaner “P” and a filter exhaust outlet “FEO” of a particulate filter “PF”. The engine exhaust system 50 includes an exhaust flow apparatus 10 as well as an exhaust stack 60 having an exhaust pipe 70.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the exhaust flow apparatus 10 includes an exhaust carrier 11, a particulate carrier 12, and an exhaust deflector 13. The exhaust carrier 11 comprises a first end portion 14 terminating at an end 15, a second end portion 20 opposing the first end portion 14 and terminating at an end 21, and a flow restriction portion 22 between the first and second end portions 14, 20. The flow restriction portion 22 is configured to cause a Venturi effect between the first and second end portions 14, 20 of the exhaust carrier 11 during use of the apparatus 10. The end 15 of the first end portion 14 of the exhaust carrier 11 defines an exhaust inlet 23 and the second end portion of the exhaust carrier 11 defines a plurality of exhaust carrier outlets 24. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, each of the outlets in the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets 24 is a slot defining a longitudinal axis. The plurality of exhaust carrier outlets 24 includes first and second sets of slots 25, 30 oriented such that the longitudinal axes “LA1” of substantially all the slots in the first set of slots 25 are not coaxial with any of the longitudinal axes “LA2” of the slots in the second set of slots 30. The plurality of exhaust carrier outlets 24 are configured in this manner to help maximize throughput through the exhaust carrier 11 without unduly compromising the structural integrity of the exhaust carrier 11.

The exhaust deflector 13 is oriented on or in proximal relation to the end 21 of the second end portion 20 of the exhaust carrier 11 such that the exhaust deflector 13 directs exhaust toward one or more of the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets 24 during use of the apparatus 10. The exhaust deflector 13 may, as shown, be a cap 13 integral with or mounted onto the end 21 of the second end portion 20 of the exhaust carrier 11. Though not shown, the cap 13 may extend beyond a periphery 31 of the end 21 of the second end portion 20 of the exhaust carrier 11. In a further arrangement not shown, the exhaust deflector 13 may be integral with or mounted onto an internal surface 72 of the exhaust pipe 70.

The particulate carrier 12 includes first and second end portions 32, 33 each including and terminating at an end 34. The first end portion 32 of the particulate carrier 12 is external to the exhaust carrier 11 while the second end portion 33 of the particulate carrier 12 is configured to be housed within the exhaust carrier 11. The first end portion 32 of the particulate carrier 12 is connected to the precleaner dust outlet “PDO” of the precleaner “P” and the end 34 of the second end portion 33 of the particulate carrier 12 is configured to be housed within the flow restriction portion 22 of the exhaust carrier 11.

The exhaust pipe 70 defines an exhaust pipe outlet 71 and is oriented such that the exhaust pipe outlet 71 is downstream from the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets 24 and is configured to house at least the second end portion 20 of the exhaust carrier 11.

In keeping with the knowledge of those of ordinary skill in the art, the references herein to components that are “configured to be housed within” or “configured to house” one another do not limit the scope of the invention to any particular stage of the assembly process; unassembled, partially assembled, and fully assembled embodiments are all within the scope of the invention. Thus, the phrases “configured to be housed within” and “configured to house” do not preclude the scope of the invention from including embodiments in which components are actually housed within or actually house one another.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The engine exhaust system 50 may be used in conjunction with any engine, including but not limited to engines in heavy equipment. For instance, as shown in FIG. 5, the system 50 may be included in the engine compartment “EC” of a machine “M” that includes, among other structures, a cab “C” supported by a chassis “CH”. The machine “M” could be any one of a number of types of heavy equipment, including but not limited to a wheel loader, track-type tractor, hydraulic excavator, skid steer loader, backhoe loader, off-highway truck or on-highway truck.

The engine exhaust system 50 operates as follows. Ambient air enters the precleaner “P” of the engine assembly, the precleaner “P” urges dust and other particulate matter in the ambient air through the precleaner dust outlet “PDO”, which is connected to the particulate carrier 12 (FIG. 2) of the exhaust flow apparatus 10. The precleaned ambient air subsequently helps bring about combustion in the cylinders of the engine assembly. Similarly, after combustion, the engine assembly routes combustion exhaust into the particulate filter “PF” and out the filter exhaust outlet “FEO” (FIG. 1). The filter exhaust outlet “FEO” is connected to the exhaust carrier 11 (FIG. 2) of the exhaust flow apparatus 10. The combustion exhaust is urged into the exhaust carrier 11 by exhaust forces that occur naturally during engine operation; however, the dust and other particulate matter from the precleaner dust outlet “PDO” must be drawn through the particulate carrier 12. This effect is accomplished by orienting the end 34 of the second end portion 33 of the particulate carrier 12 in the flow restriction portion 22 of the exhaust carrier 11, thereby utilizing the Venturi effect caused by the flow restriction portion 22 of the exhaust carrier 11 to urge the dust and particulate matter from the precleaner dust outlet “PDO” into the exhaust carrier 11. The combustion exhaust, the dust, and the particulate matter are hereinafter collectively referred to as “the exhaust substances.”

The previously described exhaust forces and Venturi effect that urge the exhaust substances into and through the exhaust carrier 11 further urge the exhaust substances toward the second end portion 20 of the exhaust carrier 11, through the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets 24, and into the exhaust pipe 70 for expulsion into ambient air. The exhaust deflector 13 directs the exhaust substances toward the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets 24. Further, the exhaust deflector 13 helps prevent rain and other matter captured from the ambient air by the exhaust pipe 70 from entering the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets 24 and the remainder of the engine assembly. As a result, no cap on the exhaust pipe 70 is needed and the exhaust pipe 70 need not be mitered.

The disclosed engine exhaust system also takes into account that the weight of the complete engine exhaust system 50, including the exhaust stack 60 and the exhaust flow apparatus 10, may be too high to be borne by the particulate filter “PF” of the engine assembly. Accordingly, in the disclosed engine exhaust system 50 the exhaust flow apparatus 10 is not physically coupled with the exhaust stack 60 and the weight of the exhaust stack 60 is borne by the engine compartment “EC” instead of the particulate filter “PF”, which only bears the weight of the exhaust flow apparatus 10.

An exhaust flow apparatus and an associated engine exhaust system are disclosed. Variations of the disclosed embodiments could be conceived and practiced without departing from the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims. 

1. An exhaust flow apparatus, comprising: an exhaust carrier having first and second opposing end portions, the first and second end portions each including and terminating at an end, the end of the first end portion defining an exhaust inlet, and the second end portion defining a plurality of exhaust carrier outlets, wherein at least the second end portion of the exhaust carrier is configured to be housed within an exhaust pipe of an exhaust stack; and an exhaust deflector oriented on or in proximal relation to the end of the second end portion of the exhaust carrier such that the exhaust deflector directs exhaust toward one or more of the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets during use of the apparatus.
 2. The exhaust flow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the exhaust deflector is a cap integral with or mounted onto the end of the second end portion of the exhaust carrier.
 3. The exhaust flow apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the outlets in the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets is a slot defining a longitudinal axis and the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets includes first and second sets of slots oriented such that the longitudinal axes of substantially all the slots in the first set of slots are not coaxial with any of the longitudinal axes of the slots in the second set of slots.
 4. The exhaust flow apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a particulate carrier having first and second end portions each including and terminating at an end, wherein at least the second end portion of the particulate carrier is configured to be housed within the exhaust carrier.
 5. The exhaust flow apparatus of claim 4, wherein the exhaust carrier includes a flow restriction portion configured to cause a Venturi effect between the first and second end portions of the exhaust carrier during use of the apparatus, and wherein at least the end of the second end portion of the particulate carrier is configured to be housed within the flow restriction portion of the exhaust carrier.
 6. An exhaust flow apparatus, comprising: an exhaust carrier having first and second opposing end portions, the first and second end portions each including and terminating at an end, the end of the first end portion defining an exhaust inlet, and the second end portion defining a plurality of exhaust carrier outlets, wherein at least the second end portion of the exhaust carrier is configured to be housed within an exhaust pipe of an exhaust stack; a cap integral with or mounted onto the end of the second end portion of the exhaust carrier such that the cap directs exhaust toward one or more of the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets during use of the apparatus; a particulate carrier having first and second end portions each including and terminating at an end, wherein at least the second end portion of the particulate carrier is configured to be housed within the exhaust carrier.
 7. The exhaust flow apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of the outlets in the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets is a slot defining a longitudinal axis and the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets includes first and second sets of slots oriented such that the longitudinal axes of substantially all the slots in the first set of slots are not coaxial with any of the longitudinal axes of the slots in the second set of slots.
 8. The exhaust flow apparatus of claim 6, wherein the exhaust carrier includes a flow restriction portion configured to cause a Venturi effect between the first and second end portions of the exhaust carrier during use of the apparatus, and wherein at least the end of the second end portion of the particulate carrier is configured to be housed within the flow restriction portion of the exhaust carrier.
 9. An engine exhaust system, comprising: an exhaust carrier having first and second opposing end portions, the first and second end portions each including and terminating at an end, the end of the first end portion defining an exhaust inlet, and the second end portion defining a plurality of exhaust carrier outlets; an exhaust deflector oriented on or in proximal relation to the end of the second end portion of the exhaust carrier, the exhaust deflector being configured to direct exhaust toward one or more of the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets; and an exhaust stack comprising an exhaust pipe defining an exhaust pipe outlet, wherein the exhaust pipe is oriented such that the exhaust pipe outlet is downstream from the exhaust carrier outlets and is configured to house at least the second end portion of the exhaust carrier.
 10. The engine exhaust system of claim 9, wherein the exhaust deflector is a cap integral with or mounted onto the end of the second end portion of the exhaust carrier.
 11. The engine exhaust system of claim 9, wherein each of the outlets in the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets is a slot defining a longitudinal axis and the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets includes first and second sets of slots oriented such that the longitudinal axes of substantially all the slots in the first set of slots are not coaxial with any of the longitudinal axes of the slots in the second set of slots.
 12. The engine exhaust system of claim 9, further comprising a particulate carrier having first and second end portions each including and terminating at an end, wherein at least the second end portion of the particulate carrier is configured to be housed within the exhaust carrier.
 13. The engine exhaust system of claim 12, wherein the exhaust carrier includes a flow restriction portion configured to cause a Venturi effect between the first and second end portions of the exhaust carrier during use of the system, and wherein at least the end of the second end portion of the particulate carrier is configured to be housed within the flow restriction portion of the exhaust carrier.
 14. The engine exhaust system of claim 12, wherein the exhaust deflector is a cap integral with or mounted onto the end of the second end portion of the exhaust carrier.
 15. The engine exhaust system of claim 12, wherein each of the outlets in the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets is a slot defining a longitudinal axis and the plurality of exhaust carrier outlets includes first and second sets of slots oriented such that the longitudinal axes of substantially all the slots in the first set of slots are not coaxial with any of the longitudinal axes of the slots in the second set of slots. 